Persistent Illness and How to Manage It
Written by: Dr Frannie Koe, MD, MPH
This season has been especially hard on our community because many people have gotten illnesses that just keep hanging on! Our clinics have seen so many sick people. As I was writing this blog post, I got a call from the hospital about a patient who wanted to talk to me because her illness did not improve even after taking very strong antibiotics. I have gotten lots of texts and messages this week from folks who are not getting well after two weeks or more of being sick!
During this illness, some people have had cough, loss of appetite, fever, fatigue, and the inability to think clearly or take care of their daily needs for several days. Other symptoms, including cough, have been lasting for 1-3 weeks after people felt better, maybe even longer in some cases.
We have done testing at our clinic and checked for Covid, the flu, RSV, Mycoplasma Pneumonia (walking pneumonia) and other viral and bacterial illnesses, as well as strep. We have had some of each of these illnesses show up and even had a patient call and say they were positive for whooping cough. But many folks have been negative for everything we have tested!
I also got sick at the beginning of the holiday season and have so much empathy for what my patients are going through because I struggled too! I came down with something the day before Thanksgiving, thinking it was just a little cold. It was the sickest I have ever been, and it has just cleared up this week, which was over 4 weeks of illness. I tested myself from home and was negative for both the flu and Covid.
It is difficult for doctors who want to do the right thing to not keep giving steroids and antibiotics for this very obnoxious and persistent virus. We have sent people for chest X-rays and have found clear lung fields on most people.
The hard part, especially for the people suffering from a prolonged illness, is that we may just have to wear out the illness rather than use medication. Most people are gradually getting better but it is very slow compared to the cycles of sickness in other years. It is my experience, but not scientifically, that the illnesses that people are dealing with are hanging on longer.
If the illness doesn’t respond to antibiotics or other medical treatment, what should we do? It is important to eat as healthy as possible: bone broth, soups, veggies, lots of fluids, and teas, especially ginger tea. Herbal teas are often helpful with plenty of lemon.
I have also recommended that folks take Vitamin C. Emergen-C is a good option because it is easily mixed with water and has Zinc, B vitamins and Vitamin C. I have recommended that people use Fisherman’s Friend cough drops or other over-the-counter cough meds. They are helping some manage the lingering cough symptoms.
It is also important to get quality sleep each night and to not overdo activity, if possible. Talk to your primary care doctor about prescription medications, which may or may not be helpful.
Some have told me they have never been sicker. I felt the same! Most people will get better on their own, although it will take longer than expected. If you are not getting better, it is very important to see their care provider and have further testing done. Sometimes colds and flu lead to serious complications.
If you have other serious health issues, it is much more important to see your doctor frequently throughout this process to make sure you are not developing anything more serious than a viral illness. If you are a diabetic, then you will want to work hard to keep your blood sugar down so you can heal more quickly.
Just be as patient with yourself as you can and know that you will get better!
As always, the content on this site is not a substitute for medical care. If you have any questions or concerns about a lingering illness or being sick while managing another chronic condition, please contact your care provider immediately.
